Grain weighing



(No Model.)

' L. P. SUMMERS.

AND DISGHARGING MACHINE.

, REGISTERING,

GRAIN WEIGHING N0. 528,403.

Patented Oct. 30,

111': uonms vzrcaaw. m 'ro-Lrn-w" WASHINGTON, a. C.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFLCE.

LEW IS PRESTON SUMMERS, OF KANSAS CITY, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-TENTH TO WILLIES. MEAD, OF SHEFFIELD, MISSOURI.

GRAIN WEIGHING, REGISTERING, AND DISCHARGING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 528,403, dated October30, 1894.

Application filed November 14, 1893. Serial No. 490,951. (No model.)

drawings, forming a part hereof.

My invention relates to machines for weigh ing, registering anddischarging grain, and has for its object to produce a machine of thischaracter which will automatically weigh, register, elevate anddischarge grain into a suitable receptacle placed for the purpose.

A further object is to provide such a machine, which may be readilyattached to or detached from a thrashing machine, and

which is simple, durable and comparatively inexpensive of construction.

My invention essentially consists in the combination with a weighing andregistering mechanism, of a swinging frame or track, provided with ahopper or receptacle to receive the grain from the thrasher, and afunnel or receptacle through which the grain is passed to the wagon,bag, or other receptacle to receive it, and an intermediate travelingbucket, which receives the grain from the hopper, and conveys it to thedischarge funnel or receptacle,.and then returns to its original andnormal position beneath the hopper.

My invention also consists in the peculiar and novel construction andcombination of its parts, as hereinafter described, claimed andillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1, is apartial end view representinga thrashing machine,and showing appliedthereto in operative position, partly in sec tion and partly inelevation, a machine constructed in accordance with my invention. Fig.2, is a horizontal sectional view, taken on the line :r0c of Fig. 1.Fig. 3,is a horizontal sectional view, taken on the line yy of Fig. 1.Fig. 4:, is a detail perspective view of the grain receiving hopper orreceptacle. Fig. 5, is a vertical sectional View of the same, taken onthe line 2-2 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6, is a detail view of the grainregistering mechanism. Fig. 7, is an edge view of the same. Fig. 8, is adetail perspective view of a portion of the mechanism carried at theupper side or top of the thrashing machine. Fig. 9, is a cletailperspective view of a portion of the adjustable frame connected to theregistering mechanism.

Referring to the drawings, Where similar,

numerals refer to corresponding parts in all the figures, 1 designates aboard which is rigidly but detachably secured upon and transversely ofthe rear end of the thrashing machine2. A suitable distance from eachend of this board, a pair of vertical bearing brackets 3, are carried,and journaled hori zontally above the thrashing machine, is a shaft 4,upon which is mounted near one end a sprocket pinion 5, which isconnected through the medium of chain 6 with a powerpinion (not shown)upon any convenient part of the thrasher.

A frame consists of a'horizontal portion 7 which fits snugly within therecessS of one of the bearing brackets 3, and upon the upper side of thetransverse board 1. This horizontal portion 7, is also provided with alongitudinal notch 9, in its inner end, which embraces and is guidedupon a bolt 10, projecting upwardly from the boardl; the headed end ofsaid bolt resting upon the upper side of the board 7, adjacent to themargin'ofthe notch 9, so as to prevent any vertical movement of saidframe. Fitting and adapted to operate vertically in the slot or notch 11of the said bearing bracket 3, is a lever 12, and this lever extendinglongitudinally of and above the horizontal portion of the frame referredto, is fulcrunned a suitable distance from its outer end upon thetransverse bar to opposite edges of the board 1. A weight 15' is mountedupon the opposite or inner end 1 tieal portions or sides 7, and 7,united at their lower and upper ends by horizontal portions 7, and 7". Ashaft 19,is journaled horizontally through the side portions 7, and 7,of said frame, and is of sufficient diameter to fit snugly within thebore or channel of the adjacent end of the shaft 4, said shaft beingpreferably formed of gas pipe, and the inner end of said shaft isprovided with a radial pin or projection 20, which engages alongitudinally extending groove or slot 21, so as to allow of thelongitudinal adjustment of the shaft 19. Keyed to slide upon and revolvewith the shaft 19, and mounted within the rectangular portion of theframe, is a ratchet clutch-section 22, which is of decreased diameter atits center so as to form an annular flange at each end.

A winding-drum 23, is mounted loosely upon the shaft 19, also within therectangular portion of the frame, and is provided at its inner face witha ratchet clutch-section 24, which is adapted to be engaged by theclutch-section 22, at times, as hereinafter explained.

Pivotally mounted at 25, within the vertical slot or notch 7 in thevertical side 7, of the frame, formed to receive the lever 12, is alever which is provided with an arm 26, bearing against the outermostflange of the clutch-section 22, and with a lower arm which is providedwith a longitudinally extending slot 27, which loosely embraces the neckof a vertical bolt 28, which projects upwardly from the cylindricalupper end 29, of a frame hereinafter described, which is adapted topartially rotate,- and adapted to have a slight movement in a verticalplane and transversely of the thrashing machine. To allow of thismovement a longitudinal slot 29, is formed in the horizontal portion 7,of the frame, through which the upper end 29, of this frame projects.The upper end 29 of this frame is also provided with an annular groove30, which is embraced by the fork 17, formed at the outer end of thelever 12. This annular groove is of sufficient size to allow of theslight swinging movement alluded to, of the frame, as well as arotatable movement.

A bell crank lever 31, is pivotally carried in the upper corner of therectangular portion of the framework, and has a depending arm bearingagainst the outer side of the inner flange of the clutch-section 22, andhas its horizontal arm projecting slightly beyond the outer side of thewinding drum 23, and provided with a vertical opening 32, for a purposehereinafter explained. An adjustable collar 33, is mounted upon theupwardly projecting and vertical tube 34, carried by the horizontalportion 7*, of the frame, and the channel of this tube is verticallyabove the opening 32, of the lever.

The rotatable and swinging frame hereinbefore mentioned, consists of apair of parallel bars 35, arranged a suitable distance apart, and bracedby cross-bars 36, and these bars 35, converge at their upper ends andare secured together to form the cylindrical portion 29, before alludedto. A pair of similar bars 37, are fitted against the outer sides of thebars 35, and are provided with inwardly projecting loops 38, whichembrace their respective bars 35. The lower ends of the bars 35 alsocarry a pair of outwardly projecting loops 39, which embrace the bars37. It will be seen by this arrangement, that when the frame is in itsnormal or extended position, the loops 38, of the lower portion restupon the loops 39, of the upper portion, and prevent theirdisconnection, while at the same time the contraction of the frame isnot interfered with, because the loops 38, of the lower frame may slideupward upon the bars 35, of the upper frame. This movement is desirableattimes, as hereinafter referred to.

A pair of horizontally arranged rings or bands 40, are formed in anysuitable manner and are provided with radially projecting hook portions41, which engage loops 42, secured to the thrashing machine a suitabledistance from its lower end, and these rings or bands 40, loosely engageannular grooves 43, formed exteriorly in a cylindrical hopper orreceptacle 44, which, is provided with a depending lug or projection 45,carrying a loop or staple 46, which projects outwardly therefrom.

A swinging frame consists of the horizontal bar or portion 47, which isprovided near its inner end with an opening 48, which loosely andpivotally embraces the cylindrical tube 34, and rests upon theadjustable collar 33, and a track-portion which is bent to form at itslower end a horizontal portion 49, extending diametrically of and asuitable distance below the hopper 44, the upwardly extending portion50, terminating in the hook 51, which engages detachably the loop orstaple 46, the upwardly and outwardly extending inclined portion 53,which is connected at its lower end by the curved portion 52, to theouter end of the horizontal portion 49, and which is curved to extend ata less angle at its upper end at 54, to join the vertically arranged andsemicircular portion 54, which is extended inwardly and horizontally at55, and rests upon the outer end of the bar or portion 47, and isembraced by the loop 56, carried thereby. The side margins of saidhorizontal portion 55, are also embraced by the vertical ears 57,carried at the outer end of the bar or portion 47, and connecting theseears 57 is a shaft, upon which is mounted a groovedpulley 58.

A funnel or discharge receptacle 59, is carried by the track portion,and depends vertically from the semicircular curved portion 54 Thisfunnel or receptacle is decreased in size at its lower end, and has itslower margin turned up exteriorly to form the circular and annularflange 60.

The spout 62, is formed with an annular and circular hook portion 61,which engages this groove 60, so that said spout may be rotated thereon,that it may be turned to discharge the grain in any direction desired.

A traveling bucket consists of the vertical and similar rectangularreceptacles 63, which are arranged a suitable distance apart, andconnected rigidly together at their inner sides by means of thecross-bars 64.

A shaft 65, extends horizontally through said buckets, a slight distanceabove their center, and a wheel 66, is mounted upon said shaft, and isflanged at either margin, to embrace the opposite edges of thetrack-rail of the swinging frame.

A bail 67, is pivotally mounted at 68 inward of the shaft- 65, and nearthe lower margin of the inner sides of the receptacle 63, and extendingupwardly upon the adjacent or inner side of a shaft, is bent forwardslightly as shown at 69, and is connected to the lower end of a cable 70which passes around the groove pulleys 58, 71 and 72, the two latterbeing carried by the frame 73, projecting upwardly from the bar orportion 47 of the swinging frame, and then passes vertically downwardthrough the tube 34, and the hole 32 formed in the bell-crank lever 31,and is secured to the winding-drum 23. This cable is formed with a knotor enlargement 74, for a purpose hereinafter explained. When the bucketis in position to receive the grain,the projecting ends of the shaft 65,rest in the crotches 75, formed by the junction of the bars 37, of theframe connected to the lever 12, and the guide-bars or arms 76, securedthereto and projecting outwardly therefrom.

It will be seen from the foregoing, that when the bucket receives acertain quantity of grain, the weight 15, will be overbalanced and thebucket automatically and by gravity will descend, thus pivotallyoperating the lever, and causing its spring-actuated and pivotallycarried bar 77, which is provided with atooth upon its inner side, tomove upward and rotate the ratchet-wheel 78, carried upon stubshaft 79,of standard 80, the distance of one notch, and this rotatable action ofthe ratchet wheel will be communicated to the indicator 81, also mountedupon said shaft, which will register the weight or quantity of grainupon the face of the dial 82. Simultaneously with this operation, thelever having the arm 26, is operated, and this forces the slidableclutchsection 22, into engagement with the companion section 24, andcauses the windingdrum 23 to rotate, which winding the cable thereon,will pull the bucket from its seat upon the guide-arms 76, and cause theroller 66, to travel along the portions 49, 52 and 53, of the trackrail, until the inner end of the curved portion 54, is reached.Immediately the roller begins to traverse upwardly the curved portion54, the cable begins to exert a direct pull upon the pivotal point 68 ofthe bail, which being eccentric of the center of said bucket, will causethe bucket to begin to tilt outwardly until the upper corner of thebucket comes in contact with and fulcrums upon the adjacent or innerside of the funnel or receptacle 59. Immediately this takes place, thecontinued upward pull upon the cable causes the bucket to tilt to theposition shown in dotted lines at Fig. 1, and discharge its contentsinto the funnel or receptacle 59, through which, and also through thespout 62, it passes to a wagon, bag, or other receptacle placed toreceive the grain. Immediately the bucket is tilted to its farthestpoint, the knot 74, passing downward through the tube 34 comes incontact with the upper side of the bell crank lever 31, and being toolarge to pass through the opening thereof, depresses the outer end ofthe same,

and causes its depending inner arm to slide Y the clutch-section 22,back to its original position. Immediately this action'takes place; thebucket being relieved of the upward pull, by gravity descends upon thetrack, and the momentum it acquires in such descent is sufticient tocause it to travel upwardly upon the guide arms 76, until its movementis arrested by coming in contact with the bars 37. To break the force oftheimpact upon said bars, the springs 83 are provided; these springsbeing carried by the hopper 44, and having their lower and free endsarranged inward of the bars 37, so as to cushion the pivotal movement ofsaid bars, and return them to their vertical position. It will be seenalso, that immediately the grain laden bucket is removed from the guidearms 76, the weight 15 by gravity causes the lever 12 to pivotallyresume its original position, and to prevent any backward rotation ofthe ratchet 78, I provide a gravity pawl 84, which is pivotally carriedat the upper end of the standard 80, and engages the said ratchet-wheel.

I will now proceed to describe the construc tion of the hopper 44, whichis adapted to be open at its lower end when the bucket is below, andwhich is adapted to be closed to prevent the egress of grain, when thebucket is moved from beneath said hopper. In order to accomplish this,the bottom of the hopper is formed with a pair of elongated openings 85,leaving the remainder of the bottom in tact. The longitudinallyextending portion intermediate of the openings 85, is arched over at 86,and is provided a suitable distance from its inner end with an opening87.

Extending longitudinally of the bottom of the hopper, and marginally ofthe outer sides of the openings 85, are the grooved cleats 88; thesegrooved cleats 88, connecting at their inner ends with a slot 89, formedin a depending segmental flange 90.

A slide, consists of the elongated rectangular portions 91, arranged tooperate longitudi-s nally in the grooved cleats 88, and against thebottom of the hopper, and these rectangular portions 91, of the slideare united at their opposite ends by cross-bars 92, which may beintegral or not as desired, or if desired, the slide may be formed inone continuous section.

Projecting forwardly from the front margin of the slide, are a pair ofarms 93, and pivotally carried by said arms, and of slightly less widththan the opening 87,in the bottom of the hopper is a plate 94, which inits normal position rests against the bottom of said hopper, and thisplate is provided with a depending lug or projection 95.

When the bucket is in the position shown in full lines in Fig. 1, or inany position not beneath the hopper 44, the slide occupies the positionshown in Figs. 1 and 4, and closes the openings 85, formed in the bottomthereof, and prevents egress of grain from the hopper, which is beingsupplied at this time from the trough or chute 96,0f the thrashingmachine. This chute of course may be inclined to feed the grain bygravity, or may be provided with a conveyor of the usual or anypreferred construction, so as to discharge the grain therefrom into thehopper continuously. After the bucket has dumped or discharged itsgrain, and descends again, the cross bar 64 at the upper and innercorner thereof comes in contact with the depending lug or projection 95of the pivoted plate 94, and forces the slide in the direction of thearrow Fig. 1, through the slot 89, of the depending flange 90, to theposition shown in dotted lines. As the slide is moved inward, thepivoted plate follows along the bottom of the hopper, and when itreaches the opening 87, its limit of inward travel, the pressure of thetop-bar 64 of the bucket causes it to pivotally operate to the positionshown at d, dotted lines, to allow the bar 64, to pass farther inward,and in position to receive all of the grain descending from the hopperthrough the openings 85. Immediately the bar 64 passes from contact, thepivoted plate by gravity, resumes it former horizontal position.

When the bucket is filled or contains a predetermined quantity of grain,it overbalances the weight 15, and pivotally operating the lever 12,descends upon the portion 49, of the track-rail and this movement,automatically registers the quantity of grain, and simultaneously causesthe revolving clutch-section 22, to engage the clutchsection 24, andwinding the cable upon the drum 23, cause the bucket to move firstoutward along the trackportion 49, and then upward to the point ofdischarge. W hen the bucket starts on its outward travel, the inner sideof the top crossbar 64, comes in contact with the lug 95, of the pivotedplate and slides it back to the outer margin of the bucket, whereresistance not being ofiered, it pivotally swings to'the position shownin dotted lines at e, until the bar has passed from contact, when bygravity, it automatically resumes its original position.

From the pivotal arrangement of the trackframe, the hopper, and theadjustable frame connected to the weighing mechanism, it will beapparent, that the track-frame maybe rotated or swung to either side ofits normal position, that the grain may be discharged into differentwagons, bins, boxes, 850., without the necessity of moving saidarticles; thus saving considerable time and labor. By mounting theframe, which carries the weighing and registering mechanism, &c.,detachably upon the board 1, it will be apparent that it may be quicklyand easily transferred from one side of the thrasher to the other, if itbe deemed necessary or desirable.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a machine for weighing, registering, conveying and discharginggrain, the combination with a grain supply, of a swinging track-frame, arotatable hopper located at one end of and adapted to rotate with thetrack frame, and a funnel or receptacle carried near the opposite end ofthe track frame, and a traveling bucket mounted upon said trackframe andadapted to receive the grain from the hopper, and dump it into thefunnel or receptacle, substantially as set forth.

2. In a machine for weighing, registering, conveying and discharginggrain, the combination with a thrashing machine, having a dischargechute or feed supply, and a number of bands or rings carried by saidthrashing machine, of a hopper rotably supported by said bands or rings,a sliding frame also carried by said thrashing machine, and a trackframepivotally carried by the sliding frame at one end, and detachablyconnected to the hopper at its opposite end, and carrying a funnel orreceptacle, substantially as set forth.

3. In a machine for weighing, registering, conveying and discharginggrain, the combination with a shaft, a drum mounted thereon, atrack-frame, and guide-pulleys carried by said track-frame, of a bucketconsisting of two receptacles, a shaft extending through said bucket, aflanged roller upon said shaft and engaging the track-frame, a pivotedbail carried by said bucket, and a cable guided over said pulleys, andconnecting the said bail, and the winding drum, and means to operate theshaft and cause the roller to travel upward upon the track portion ofthe trackframe, substantially as set forth.

4. In a machine for weighing, registering, conveying and discharginggrain, the combination with a shaft, a ratchet clutch-section mounted toslide upon and revolve with said shaft, and a winding-drum provided witha companion ratchet clutch-section, and loosely mounted upon the shaft,of a track-frame, guide-pulleys carried thereby, a traveling bucketmounted upon said track-frame, a cable guided over said pulleys andconnecting the drum and the bucket, and means to cause the slidableclutch-section to engage its companion section carried by the drum, soas to wind the cable upon said drum and elevate the bucket, and means toautomatically withdraw said clutch-section from its engagement with thewinding drum clutch-section so as to allow the bucket to descend bygravity to its original position, substantially as set forth.

5. In a machine for weighing, registering, conveying and discharginggrain, the combination with a frame, a lever carried thereby, and aregistering mechanism operatively connected to said lever, of a framedepending from said lever, and provided with guidearms, a track-frame,and a bucket adapted to travel upon said track-frame and also upon theframe connected to the lever so as to be carried thereby, and adaptedwhen supplied with grain to pivotally operate said lever and theregistering mechanism, and to descend upon the track-frame,substantially as set forth.

6. In a machine for weighing, registering, conveying and discharginggrain, the combination with a revolving shaft, a clutch-section mountedto slide upon and revolve with said shaft, a winding-drum provided witha companion clutch-section mounted loosely upon said shaft, atrack-frame, guide-pulleys carried thereby, a traveling bucket mountedupon said track-frame, and a cable guided over said pulleys andconnecting the winding drum and the traveling bucket, of a weighing andregistering mechanism, adapted to be automatically operated by the grainladen bucket to throw the slidable clutch-section into engagement withthe clutch-section of the winding-drum and elevate the bucket, and aknot or enlargement upon thecable adapted through intermediate mechanismto disengage said clutch-sections, and allow the bucket, by gravity toresume its original position, substantially as set forth.

7. In a machine for weighing, registering, conveying and discharginggrain, the combination with a hopper having openings in the bottom, aslide closing said openings, and a plate carried by said slide, of atrack-frame extending beneath said hopper, a traveling bucket mountedthereon, and a bar carried by said bucket and adapted, when the bucketmoves upon the track-frame and beneath the hopper, to engage said plateand move the slide to expose the openings of the hopper, and adapted,when the bucket is moved from beneath said hopper, to engage said plateand move the slide back to its original position, substantially as setforth.

8. In a machine for weighing, registering, conveying and discharginggrain, the combination with a hopper having openings in its bottom, andan arch or false bottom closing one of said openings, and guide-cleatsarranged at the outer margins of the other openings, of a slide frameengaging said guidecleats and closing said openings, and a pivoted platecarried by said slide-frame, and provided with a depending lug orprojection, a track-frame, and a traveling bucket mounted thereon andadapted when moving in one direction to engage the depending lug of thepivoted plate and force the slide to uncover the openings in the bottomof the hopper, and adapted when moving in the opposite direction toengage the said lug and move the slide back to its original position toprevent the egress of grain from the hopper, substantially as set forth.

9. In a machine for weighing, registering, conveying and discharginggrain, the combination with a hopper, and a funnel having a rotatablespout, of an inclined track-frame suitably supported and terminating atits lower end beneath the hopper, and having a curved portion at theinner side of the hopper, of a traveling bucket having a wheel mountedupon the track-frame, a bail pivotally carried by the bucket inward ofthe axis of said wheel, a drum, a cable suitably guided and connectingthe drum and the said bail, and means to wind the cable upon the drumuntil the bucket fulcrums upon the funnel and discharges its contentstherein, substantially as set forth.

10. In a machine for weighing, registering, conveying and discharginggrain, the combination with a weighing and registering mechanism, and aframe operatively connected thereto, and provided with guide-arms at itslower end, of a track-frame, and a traveling bucket having a shaftprojecting therethrough, which is adapted when the bucket descends toride upward upon the guide arms so that the weight of the bucket shallbe sustained by the weighing mechanism, substan tially as set forth.

11. In a machine for weighing, registering, conveying and discharginggrain, the combination with a weighing and registering mechanism, and aframe operatively connected thereto, and provided with guide-arms at itslower end, of a track-frame, and a traveling bucket having a shaftprojecting therethrough, which is adapted when the bucket descends toride upward upon the guide arms so that the weight of the bucket shallbe sustained by the weighing mechanism, and springs arranged adjacent tothe inner side of the guide-arm carrying frame, and adapted to cushionthe impact of the bucket shaft against said frame, substantially as setforth.

12. In a machine for weighing, registering,

conveying and discharging grain, the combination with a board mountedupon a thrashing machine, and bearing brackets carried thereby, and ahollow and slotted shaft mounted in said bearing brackets, and headedbolts or pins carried by said board, of a sliding frame, mounted uponsaid shaft and fitting in a recess in the lower portion of one of saidbearing brackets, and having a notched inner end engaging one of saidheaded bolts, and a shaft mounted in said sliding frame and fittingwithin the first mentioned shaft, and having a pin engaging a slotthereof, a drum mounted loosely upon said shaft, and provided with aclutch-section, and a second clutch-section mounted to slide upon andrevolve with said shaft, a cylindrical tube carried by said slidingframe, a hopper rotably carried by the thrashing machine, a trackfrainerotably mounted at one end upon said tube, and having its opposite endengaging the loop carried by the hopper, a traveling bucket mounted uponthe track-frame, a suitably guided cable connecting the bucket and thewinding-drum, and means to cause the bucket to be elevated and to beallowed to 10 descend by gravity, automatically, substantially as setforth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

LEWIS PRESTON SUMMERS. \Vitnesses:

MAUD FITZPATRICK, G. Y. THORPE.

